# Making the Annual Plan the Default Selection A/B Test

Page: https://alidemirbas.com.tr/en/lab/ab-test-library/tests/making-the-annual-plan-the-default-selection-ab-test

## Hypothesis

If the pricing page opens with the annual period selected, users who do not actively choose a billing period may accept the annual discount along with the default. As long as the annual total and billing schedule stay clear, that could raise revenue per assigned user.

## When to run this test

Visitors who never touch the billing selector in session recordings, support requests about annual billing, and survey answers from users who missed the annual discount raise the question of whether the monthly plan wins only because it is preselected. If the default really drives the choice, the annual plan selection share goes up while the paid subscription start rate holds steady. If billing questions stem from an unclear price explanation, fix that first, and keep cancellation and refund terms visible on the page in both arms.

## Primary metric

**Revenue per assigned user**: Include non-buyers and use the same measurement window and revenue basis for monthly and annual plans.

## Other metrics

- **Paid subscription start rate**: Compare paid subscription starts across the monthly and annual defaults.
- **Annual plan selection share**: Report plan selection; choosing the annual plan does not by itself prove revenue improved.
- **Cancellation or refund rate**: Compare subscriptions with the same completed follow-up period.
- **Billing-related support requests**: Track questions about billing period or charges using the same visitor denominator.

## What to check before and during the test

- **Default**: Compare monthly selected by default with annual selected by default.
- **Discount**: Keep the annual discount and its wording unchanged.
- **Price disclosure**: Show annual total, monthly equivalent and billing schedule clearly in both arms.
- **Selector**: Use the same visible selector and allow visitors to change their selection.
- **Audience**: Review small-team and enterprise users separately.

## What to watch when reading the result

- A higher annual plan selection share does not prove a revenue gain. Compare revenue per assigned user on the same accounting basis without counting upfront payment as recurring revenue; if paid subscription starts drop or billing-related support requests rise, do not ship.
- The result is limited to this discount and this billing selector; review small-team and enterprise users separately. Compare cancellations and refunds only on subscriptions whose follow-up period has ended, since early numbers can mislead. On mobile, check that the selected billing period is obvious and that the monthly option stays easy to find.
- Revenue per user varies far more than a simple conversion rate, because annual and monthly amounts differ so much. If the result is unclear, enter the current paid subscription start rate and the lift you want to detect in the [sample size calculator](https://alidemirbas.com.tr/en/calculators/sample-size-calculator) to see the users needed per arm before you extend the test. That figure does not cover the revenue gap, which is noisier, so read revenue with even more caution.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does a higher annual-plan selection share mean more revenue?

Not necessarily. Use revenue per eligible assigned user as the primary outcome, and do not treat upfront collections as recurring revenue.

### What is the risk of preselecting the annual plan?

People who miss the billing period may abandon checkout or cancel early. Compare mature cancellations and refunds, billing-related support contacts and the clarity of the mobile selected state.

### Can the monthly option be made less noticeable?

Keep it readily accessible. Show the annual total and billing frequency clearly, with cancellation and refund terms. This test changes only the preselected period.